JD 24T Missing ties. Needle Question

Hi guys. I have a dilemma that I hope someone can help with. We have a 1957? JD 24T baler running a Wisconsin 2 cylinder drive. Dad has been saying for years that it doesn't run at a fast enough RPM which causes stress and pops sheer pins, but I take it easy on the old girl and she was doing okay. About 3 years back, I broke a pin. When I looked at the needles in the lifted position, I noticed one was lower at full lift than the other. I adjusted it LOWER to stop it from hitting the knotter. Ever since then, no broken sheer pins, but it'll miss almost every 3rd or 4th bale. Sometimes it'll miss 3 or 4 in a row and I have to just keep feeding it. The field was brought in yesterday, and I started looking at this issue afterward. There's a noticeable difference between the two needles when looking through the bale chamber using the inspection window on the side. At the park position, I can see the knotter that misses is about 1" lower than the one that doesn't. At full lift, one needle is lower than the other, and the lower one is sliding against the knotter. The other is centered or even high in the travel area. This all makes sense as the arch of the shorter needle is tighter than the arch of the working needle. My guess is a bent needle, but which one? My second guess is a 14T needle on a 24T, but I'm not sure how much they differ. I've always known needles to bend open, but I can't tell which one is right. Is there a measurement that can be done by laying a straight edge across the top of the needle and measuring the distance from the straight edge to the lowest part of the arch to determine which needle is right? I've been looking for a set that doesn't cost and arm and a leg, but the internet is a big world. They come and go before I even find them. Anybody have a needle they could measure or want to sell? Thanks, Mike

Sounds like your needle carriage is bent a little. Look for cracks in the paint where the needles bult up. Finger Lakes Equipment has an aftermarket needle carriage for a good price. Aftermarket and good used needles too.

they should be even.

I agree with bent needle frame. The one that misses knots is the bent side and I would bet it is the side away from the lift link. A new or straight used needle frame is the best way to fix it. Trying to straighten a twisted needle frame is near impossible. Take notes on the side that is tying so you can set up the needles.

(quoted from post at 00:21:39 06/14/16) I agree with bent needle frame. The one that misses knots is the bent side and I would bet it is the side away from the lift link. A new or straight used needle frame is the best way to fix it. Trying to straighten a twisted needle frame is near impossible. Take notes on the side that is tying so you can set up the needles.

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I would agree with you guys, but I did look for paint indications. There are none, and secondly, I can clearly see two distinct arches to the needles indicating that one is most definitely arched tighter than the other. The frame seems fine. No wiggle room and measures square. I think I'll grab a video to show what I mean later today when I have a minute.

Knotters tie using magic. Any good magician knows that the trick only works if everything is perfect. If one needle is bent, the trick won't work. If a needle has been bent, it's gonna need replaced. Spend some time with a tape measure and try to determine which one is bent and by how much.
AaronSEIA

You need to get out the OM and adjust it right, not re-engineer! The needle has to contact the knotter frame to quiet the
tuning fork effect and lay the twine where it is supposed to go.

Ditto what Roger stated. The only correct time to adjust needle is when needle is up in knotter area IE needle frame fully raised position.

Well, this made it pretty clear to me. I'm betting it will show you guys what's going on as well. Lots of things looked very different with the needles up vs parked. After showing my dad this video, he confessed to having full knowledge of this issue but had long since forgotten about it. Anybody have a needle and a needle arm laying around before I go crack out the BFH and a little bit of heat? Video below.

https://youtu.be/q7Pkg6jvtJg

(quoted from post at 16:34:06 06/14/16) Well, this made it pretty clear to me. I'm betting it will show you guys what's going on as well. Lots of things looked very different with the needles up vs parked. After showing my dad this video, he confessed to having full knowledge of this issue but had long since forgotten about it. Anybody have a needle and a needle arm laying around before I go crack out the BFH and a little bit of heat? Video below.

https://youtu.be/q7Pkg6jvtJg

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Try checking on ebay for the needle and needle arm.

(quoted from post at 18:34:06 06/14/16) Well, this made it pretty clear to me. I'm betting it will show you guys what's going on as well. Lots of things looked very different with the needles up vs parked. After showing my dad this video, he confessed to having full knowledge of this issue but had long since forgotten about it. Anybody have a needle and a needle arm laying around before I go crack out the BFH and a little bit of heat? Video below.

https://youtu.be/q7Pkg6jvtJg

Click to expand...

Good looking baler! Finger Lakes Equipment can hook you up with needle and needle carriage.

I see 2 needles and an arm, but final cost after it's all said and done is gonna be almost 600 bucks. What's really eating me alive is that less than a week ago I passed on the exact twin to my baler. Had the wisconsin and all. It needed the carb cleaned, but the guy said he used it last year and everything was great. He wanted 500 bucks. I thought "bah, mine works fine. Miss a bale every now and again, but it probably just needs grease". That baler was sold the day I baled. Sometimes kicking yourself in your own butt sounds like the absolute best option. I have an irrigation system to build. Looks like I'll be dropping bales next time I bring in hay. It works... for the most part. Just gonna lower that right needle a bit and run her I guess. I'll have to put this off for now. It hasn't crashed the needle yet. Here's keeping my lucky fingers crossed.(Pretty sure they're just regular fingers at this point anyway).